Thai Food South

Thai Food - Southern Region Specialities

Thai food from the Southern region tends to be heavy,rich & pungent, intensely hot and spicy.

Heavy use of all forms of fish from the abundant shorelines that surround the area. The population of many of the Southern provinces are predominantly Muslim, whose ancestors immigrated into the area from the Indian subcontinent over the past two thousand years. Therefore, of all the regions, the foods here bear closest similarities to Indian food.

Kaeng Phaenang Gai (Penang Chicken Curry)

The Penang Curry carries with it flavours from distant places - Malaysia, Burma & India(Penang is a state in northern Malaysia), its a full bodied curry with stacks of taste !.

Ingredients(serves two)

1 small chicken - cut up into pieces

3 fresh ripe tomatoes - cut into wedges

2 red bell or sweet peppers - sliced

Curry Sauce

4 tablespoons tomato paste

1 small onion - cut up into quarters

1 small piece of galangal or ginger - sliced

4 cloves garlic

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon dark soy sauce

2 tablespoon fish sauce

1 teaspoon shrimp paste

1 tablespoon paprika

2 tablespoon chillie powder

1/2 tablespoon ground coriander

1 fresh red chillie - minced

1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

1 tablespoon cumin powder

2 kaffir lime leaves(available in Asian & Chinese food stores)

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1 can of good quality coconut milk

juice of 1/2 lime

Method

* To make the curry sauce, place all sauce ingredients in a food processor, Processing thoroughly.

* Add 1/2 to 1 additional can of coconut milk if you'd like more sauce, or if the curry is too spicy.

* Pour sauce into a cassarole dish and add the chicken pieces, mixing together well.

* Cover and bake in oven at 375 degrees for 45 minutes.

* Remove from oven and add the tomatoes and peppers. Mix well, then return to the oven to bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until chicken is cooked.

* Do a taste test before serving: add 1-2 Tbsp. more fish sauce if not salty enough. If too spicy, add more coconut milk or a little yogurt. If too salty, add more lime juice.